Newcastle Knights vs. Penrith Panthers

Newcastle have been nothing if not consistent this season: they’ve won (and won well) at home and lost away. And there is little reason to suggest the Knights won’t maintain their unbeaten record at Hunter Stadium on Saturday evening. The Panthers are languishing in 15th place after four successive losses, including a 30-0 pasting by North Queensland last week.
Penrith have a reasonable record at this ground, having won two of their past five matches (46-12 in 2007 and 34-30 in 2010), but a repeat performance appears beyond their current playing squad unless the Knights are right off their game. Perhaps the biggest thing the Panthers have going for them is their four former Knights players, Wes Naiqama, Brad Tighe, Cameron Ciraldo and Clint Newton, who will be keen to make an impact against their old club.

Newcastle are the NRL's newest tease are they the real deal or are they just making up the numbers as finals contenders? Saturday night's clash against the Panthers probably won't clear that up too much, but the Knights would no doubt want to flex a bit of muscle against the Panthers. Darius Boyd's bizarre mid-week media conference showed all is not well up in Newcastle, but a win would no doubt help. Penrith have gone downhill since their opening-round win though last week's surrender to the Cowboys was a new low.

The Knights need to work out who is running the show, with Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts and Kurt Gidley all playing cameos rather than leading roles.
KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Alex McKinnon, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Kurt Gidley (capt), Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Chris Houston, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Danny Buderus, Neville Costigan, Adam Cuthbertson, David Fa'alogo.
PANTHERS: Dean Whare, Josh Mansour, Wes Naiqama, Brad Tighe, David Simmons, Tom Humble, Blake Austin, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston (capt), Nigel Plum, Sika Manu, Lewis Brown, Cameron Ciraldo. Interchange: Adam Docker, Clint Newton, James Segeyaro, Tim Grant.